Daniel Johnston - 1990

When several albums of Daniel Johnston's homemade recordings appeared in the late 80s, it created a significant buzz into music circles. Studio owner Mark Kramer was quickly on the scene, bringing Johnston to his own Shimmy-Disc label for this fine album. 1990 is a collection of extremely polished and staggeringly honest odes to love, comic book heroes and music. Steve Shelly and Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth accompany Johnston alone at the piano or guitar. His version of Lennon and McCartney's "Got to Get You Into My Life" has never been covered with this degree of conviction, streamlined down to it's essential rhythmic core.